New Kansas wheat forecast even more optimistic about harvest size
A just-released estimate forecasts the Kansas wheat crop at 393.6 million bushels, a 22 percent increase over last year, even though farmers planted fewer acres of wheat.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimate, made June 1, is significantly higher than its May 1 estimate.
Nearly every part of Kansas will see an increase from last year, according to the estimate, with western Kansas seeing improvements between 24 percent and 50 percent.
Farmers in south-central Kansas will see an increase of 13 percent over last year.
Farmers have been desperate for a strong harvest because crop prices remain well below prices over the past six years. The cash price for wheat at the Farmers Co-op in Garden Plain was $4.02 per bushel on Friday.
Dan Voorhis: 316-268-6577, @danvoorhis
This story was originally published June 10, 2016 at 2:07 PM with the headline "New Kansas wheat forecast even more optimistic about harvest size."